Index Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I obtain the performance figures for the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices on the MSCI Barra website?
2. How can I download the security breakdown, sector, or country weights of an index?
3. How can I find out which countries are included in an index?
4. Where can I find the definitions for the MSCI Equity Indices?
5. How does MSCI Barra define its Price Indices, Gross Indices and Net Indices?
6. What does “local currency” mean and how is it calculated?
7. What is the difference between the Free and non-Free versions of an index?
8. How do I find out the Bloomberg or Reuters ticker for an index?
9. Does MSCI Barra provide custom indices?
10. Are any MSCI indices licensed as the basis of ETFs, ETNs or Futures contracts?
11. What are the target delivery times of MSCI Global Equity Index files to clients?
1. How do I obtain the performance figures for the MSCI Global Investable Market Indices on
the MSCI Barra website?
Please click on the link below:
http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/stdindex/performance.html
The performance figures for other MSCI Indices can be accessed from our home page.
Simply go to http://www.mscibarra.com and access the Index Performance Link on the left
side of the page.
For historical equity index levels, please follow the steps above, and then click on
the name of the desired index. This will load a chart representing the performance of
the index. The chart has several customization options, as well as a Download link.
2. How can I download the security breakdown, sector, or country weights of an index?
Index membership (constituents), security weights, sector weights, or country weights
are available on a subscription basis from MSCI Barra. For additional details, please
contact MSCI Barra Global Client Service at:
http://www.mscibarra.com/about/client_service.html
3. How can I find out which countries are included in an index?
Country membership for the MSCI International Equity Indices can be found
at: http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/equity/coverage.jsp
1. Click on the Market drop-down list to choose Developed Markets, Emerging Markets, or All Country (i.e., Developed + Emerging Markets)
2. After choosing the market, please select the desired index
Note: Country weights are not available on this page. Country weights are available on
a subscription basis from MSCI Barra. For additional details, please contact
MSCI Barra Global Client Service at: http://www.mscibarra.com/about/client_service.html
4. Where can I find the definitions for the MSCI Equity Indices?
Definitions for various MSCI International Equity Indices can be found at:
http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/equity/definitions.jsp
Definitions are offered only for a select number of indices. MSCI Barra calculates
thousands of indices per day.
Definitions for the MSCI US Equity Indices can be found at:
http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/us/definitions.jsp
Definitions for the MSCI KOKUNAI Japan Equity Indices can be found at:
http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/kokunai/en/definitions.jsp
For other MSCI Equity Indices please visit the product-specific pages for an overview.
5. How does MSCI Barra define its Price Indices, Gross Indices and Net Indices?
Please click on the below for this definition:
http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/equity/definitions.jsp#PRICE
6. What does “local currency” mean and how is it calculated?
MSCI Local Currency is a special currency perspective that approximates the return of an index
as if there were no currency FX changes from one day to the next.
The local currency return of an index is approximated by carrying over the previous
day’s FX rates. This can be thought of as a theoretical, continuous hedge.
For additional detail, including calculation methodology, please refer to the MSCI
Index Calculation Methodology guide, available at:
http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/equity/methodology.jsp
7. What is the difference between the Free and non-Free versions of an index?
Please see the link below:
http://www.mscibarra.com/products/indices/equity/definitions.jsp#Free
8. How do I find out the Bloomberg or Reuters ticker for an index?
Bloomberg, Reuters, or any external vendor tickers for MSCI indices are all maintained by
the third-party vendors themselves. Therefore, we recommend contacting the vendor in
question for their ticker information. For a list of Reuters RICs for select MSCI Equity Indices,
please click here.
9. Does MSCI Barra provide custom indices?
Yes. Please refer to the MSCI Custom Indices section of our website.
For further questions regarding MSCI Custom Indices, please read the MSCI Custom Indices FAQ
10. Are any MSCI indices licensed as the basis of ETFs, ETNs or Futures contracts?
Yes. For a listing of licensed indices, please click here.
11. What are the target delivery times of MSCI Global Equity Index files to clients?
Please click here for MSCI Global Equity Index file target delivery times.
